| Unit name | Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability |
|---|---|
| Unit code | EFIM30012 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Phillips |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
Introduction to Management (EFIM10015) OR Organisation Theory (EFIM10013) |
| Co-requisites |
None. |
| School/department | School of Management - Business School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability focuses on the economic, social and environmental impacts of business and the resulting challenges faced by organisations and their managers. This is particularly important in the face of climate change, rapidly depleting resources and a growing demand from the public that business attends to its role both in causing and resolving such issues. This unit seeks to deepen students' understanding of corporate social responsibility (CSR) by taking a critical look at its origins, theoretical approaches to CSR, specific areas such as supply chain issues, ethical consumerism, market relations, the business case and other emerging issues. The unit will then go on to consider how an ethos around sustainability might offer a more radical approach to CSR, looking critically at the theoretical work of (for example) Gregory Bateson, the ecofeminist movement and deep ecology. The unit will also provide opportunities for students to develop their transferable skills.
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
This unit will encompass 18 lectures supported by 16 classes and case studies.
This pattern of teaching may be changed slightly to accommodate the Easter Vacation.
Formative:
1 x 1500 word essay to assess and give feedback on:
1 x team presentation to assess and give feedback on:
Summative
1 x 3500 word individual written assignment to assess:
This unit does not follow a core textbook. Students are encouraged to undertake a significant amount of further research and independent reading and are expected to identify and select relevant, high quality literature themselves.
As part of the general, background reading for the unit, we would suggest the following texts:
- Blowfield M & Murray A (2008) Corporate Responsibility: A Critical Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press - Crane A & Matten D (2010) Business Ethics: Managing Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability in the Age of Globalisation. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Please note that this text book is designed for teaching Business Ethics (as suggested by the title!) and we DO NOT cover ethical theory on this course. - Crane A, McWilliams A, Matten D, Moon J & Siegel D S (2008) The Oxford Handbook of CSR. Oxford: Oxford University Press. - Marshall, J., Coleman, G., Reason, P. Eds. (2011) Leadership for Sustainability: An Action Research Approach. Sheffield: Greenleaf Publishing.Useful journals to look at include the following:
Journal of Business Ethics
Business Ethics Quarterly
Organization
Organization Studies
Business & Society
Hypatia
Ethics and the Environment
Organization and Environment
The library also subscribes to a package of eBooks, case studies and journal articles called THE SUSTAINABLE ORGANIZATION LIBRARY (SOL). It is a searchable online library of around 10,000 items focused on sustainability and social responsibility.
